, 1887-10-29
A GREAT FIRM FAILS.
The Wholesale Grocery House of
Baker & Johnson Closed.
Nothing Definite Known as to Their
Actual Financial Standing.
A Manifesto Issued by Messrs.
Baker & Johnson.

Inc Wholesale grocery house of Baker &
johnson, one of the leading commercial
institutions of the territory, was closed by
Sheriff S~harpless yesterday morning by
virtue of an attachment suit brought by
John r. Gordon, a commission merchant,
formerly of Central City. Neb.. for the
recovery OF 81, COB.
The suspension created u sensation,
although 1t was not entirely unexpected,
asst has been known for,some time that the
e%nterprising firm was in financial straits.
They were the heaviest investors in Silver
Grown mining district, and are interested
in oil wells and coal deposits in different
sections of the territory. 1t is well known
that no firm was ever more %lenient with
its customers, or extended more favors to
patrons, than Baker Il johnson have
during a business career of eleven years
in this city,
No assignment has yet been made, aud
1t cannot be stated authoritatively that
one will be executed, or that the present
embarrassment will prevent a resumption
Of business by the unfortunate firm in the
near future.
Messrs. Gordon, johnson, Kent and
Baker, the gentlemen Immediately inter
ested in or closely connected with the
failure, were interviewed by a LEADER
representative last evening.
Mr.. Gordon assured the reporter that
his action was not the cause of the sus
pension. The idea that enforcement of
the liquidation of his claim by a wealthy
firm would resalt so seriously was
preposterous. To them 81, 600 was
a mere bagatelle when in good cir
c%umstances. He caused an attachment
to be levied upon the Sixteenth street
store and a consignment of -four for the
simple reason that he believed it to be to
his best interests to adopt such a course.
He had received the assurance of the
firm and Mr.. 7. A. Kent that the iudg-
ment would be confessed and the attach
ment thereby dissolved some time to day,
after which his connection with the mat
ter ended. Mr.. Gordon has dealt with
the firm for the past seven years, and,
while declaring that it is composed Of
honorable men. states that he felt justified
in acting as he did.
L. A. Kent, the banker, holds a chattel
mortgage upon certain belongings of the
hrm as guarantee for the payment of
$4,000. 1t is rumored, though the re-
port has not been substantiated. that the
conditions of the indenture we're such that
the mortgage could foreclose when, in
his judgment, it became necessary in Or
der to protect himself. Mr.. Kent stated
hat no cause existed for alarm by those
not directly interested in the failure. He
could not say whether or no the firm
would resume. The Cheyenne and Lusk
stores were now in his possession. Tie
foreclosure was not due to the suit
brought by Gordon. 1t was an affair of
his own. =
Messrs. Baker 4 johnson are naturally
greatly worried over the situation, but
express conf lence in their ability to ulti
mately discharge all obligations. They
we're very reticent over the details of the
transaction, stating that all they wished
to make public was contained in the
appended announcement. The furnish
ing of this candid statement further testi-
hes to the integrity of the gentlemen.
Following is the open letter:
CHEYENNE, Oct. 2S. I8S7.-To The
Ieopte Of Wyoming Territory and the
Creditors Of Our Firm:-We would re.
specttully say that for a number of years
We have labored to develop and thus call
the attention of outside capital to the re
sources of Laramie and other counties in
the territory, which we hoped would not
only result in a direct benefit to ourselves
as well as indirectly to others. In doing
this we have expended a large amount of
money. On account of the difficulty of
making collections honestly due us from
our patrons (uot one of whom we ever
brought suit agaiust), we regret to say
that we are compelled to deliver our
property over to our creditors, believing
that they have been as ~lenient with us as
circumstances would permit.
We thank the people of Cheyenne par.
tlcularly for the liberal patronage ex
tended to US for the last eleven years.
We regret exceedingly not being able to
meet promptly our honest obligations. 1t
is not on account of personal e~xtravagances
on the part of our Mr.. johnson or his
family, nor on account of our Mr.. Baker,